Emma

I've been lucky enough to have two Grandmother's in my 29 years on this Earth... Not everyone can say that.

A grandma's love is different than your mother or father's - they're more patient ... they have the missing wisdom of your parents ... and no matter what, you can do no wrong in they eyes.

Both of my grandmothers are special women. But there is one in particular that is undeniably the rock of our family. Hell, she's a rock of a city. My grandma Emma has had cancer for 50-plus years. It's eaten at her body over the time and all the while she quietly goes about her life. Loving us grandkids ... loving her children ... loving her life.

She still works to this day (a majority of the days allow her, but she does have to take it easy from time to time).

The cancer has completely taken over one of her legs. I remember growing up I was scared to look at it because I didn't understand. Now, I look at her leg and am proud to be the grandson of this strong angel. I've never heard her complain, never heard her want to give in.

No matter how much she hurt, she'd get up to make me her delicious dishes when I went over. I needed a place to stay? Her door was wide open ... and I wasn't a burden. I was welcomed and treated like royalty.

It's rather humbling to have her in my life. I have no reason to complain, I don't have cancer eating away everywhere it'd like she does.

At the moment, she's in the hospital ... and my visit to see her is the reason for this post.

For the first time in my time in her life I felt she was tired of the pain... tired of dealing with it. Now, I'm not saying that she's giving up. But there was a calm scared/tired/peace over her.

She'll be 80 a month from tomorrow. And I can't wait to see her on her birthday.

Her quiet smile. Her distinctive "hello." Her quiet strength.

Emma. Four letters, stronger than you or I.

Best Catch Ever -Hiroshi Tanaka is Jealous

Harry Doyle: [drunk] So, Hiroshi "Kamikaze" Tanaka, recently of the Tokyo Giants, knocks himself cold for the second time this week. Maybe in Japan, that's actually better than catching the ball. Personally, I think he's just trying to get out of the lineup.

Where Has Boxing Gone? Missing Modest Athletes

I grew up with two main sports in my household growing up: Lakers and Boxing. I was born in 1981 and was blessed to be brought up in a great decade of boxing that continued into the 1990's.

Pops didn't watch much baseball on television and football Sundays were pretty mellow. Friday and Saturday nights were filled with uncles talking crap in the living room, food all over the place, and boxing lighting up the dark scene.

We're now in a Mixed Martial Arts era. I heard an interview today with UFC owner, Dana White, and he laid it out perfectly regarding the state of boxing: people are no longer training to box, they want to do it all. Why train to learn just to box when you can be multi-skilled?

White makes a great point... and he's run a tight ship.

The years of boxing I was blessed to watch growing up caused the downfall we have today. There were super fights that have given boxers their big heads today. The 80's we got to watch Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson's fights, Spinks-Holmes, Leonard-Hearns to name a few. Oscar de la Hoya, Whitaker-Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones Jr., Holyfield, Hopkins, dominated the 90's.

Now, I'm not saying that we don't get super fights in boxing today... but the boxers have taken control. That's why the UFC has been so successful, White decides who fights who and when... the fighters don't decide like in boxing. We don't get to see Mayweather-Pacquiao because FLOYD decides if and when he wants to fight.

The best don't fight the best in boxing. In the UFC, if you've paid your dues you get your shot and the big time fighters can't decide who they fight. The boxing association needs to take control of the sport again if they want to resurrect a dying sport.

And can we please get some heavyweights back in boxing?!?!